Requirements (50-56 hours)

One course is required in each of the 17 components with the exception of Bible which requires 2 courses. Course descriptions for all general education courses are located in the appropriate academic sections of this catalog.

Credit for Off-Campus Study Experiences

Many Malone University students take advantage of opportunities for off-campus academic study, and in some cases such study can be used to fulfill general education requirements. Off-campus study experiences include those sponsored by Malone University as well as others not sponsored by Malone University (e.g., programs available through the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, Brethren Colleges Abroad, etc., and independent study programs).

Some off-campus study experiences may include courses that have been pre-approved to fulfill Global Connections, Cross-Cultural Encounter, Engaging Cultures and Institutions, Faith in the World, or other general education requirements. The Office of the Registrar maintains a list of courses that have been pre-approved to fulfill specific general education requirements. Students are encouraged to consult this list when planning to participate in off-campus study experiences in order to assist them in meeting their academic requirements. Off-campus study experiences sponsored by Malone University will include information about whether or not they fulfill specific general education requirements in their course descriptions (if they are Malone courses). In many cases, off-campus study experiences that are not sponsored by Malone University may include courses that have been pre-approved to meet specific general education requirements. Information about off-campus study experiences is available from the Director of Study Abroad and Off-Campus Programs. Approvals for off-campus study experiences and any petitions seeking approval for general education requirements must be completed prior to the time at which the student engages in the off-campus study experience.

Note: With prior approval of the Cross-Cultural Experience Coordinator, a student may use an off-campus study experience as the basis for completing SOSC 211 to fulfill the Cross-Cultural Encounter component of the general education program. This may be accomplished by registering for SOSC 211 and fulfilling all related course requirements prior to, during, and after the experience. See SOSC 211  for a complete course description of Cross-Cultural Experience.

Testing of General Education Proficiencies

Malone University requires all students who complete the General Education program listed on the previous pages to take the CAAP Test (Collegiate Assessment of Academic Proficiency) prior to  graduation. The CAAP Test is designed to measure selected academic skills of writing, reading, mathematics, science reasoning and critical thinking. These are foundational for successful performance in upper-level University courses and are essential to the general education curriculum. CAAP is given for three main reasons:

1. to measure each student’s academic proficiency in relationship  to other Malone students;
2. to measure Malone students’ academic proficiency as a whole in relationship to national norms;
3. to provide test scores in each of the academic areas which may  be used in advising and accepting students into specific majors. A University-wide minimum proficiency in English has been  established. Each academic school or department may also establish minimum proficiencies in other selected academic areas.

A student who has completed at least 45 semester hours (typically, a second semester sophomore) will be required to register with the Office of Advising and Testing to take the CAAP Test prior to applying for a major. It is to the student’s advantage to have taken the required English, mathematics and science General Education courses prior to taking the Test. The Office of Advising and Testing is responsible for administration of the CAAP Test. 

It is advisable for each student to consult the appropriate dean or department chair in order to become fully aware of the proficiencies and other requirements for the major. A student failing to meet departmental CAAP minimum proficiency requirements (other than English-writing; see “Writing Proficiency” below) must contact the dean or department chair of his/her intended major to take the necessary step(s) to meet the requirement(s).

Writing Proficiency

A student’s proficiency in writing will be determined by:

1. successful completion (a grade of C or higher) of ENG 145, usually during the freshman year, and
2. attaining a scaled score of 62 on the Writing Skills section of the CAAP Test (Collegiate Assessment of Academic Proficiency).

A student who fails to meet the minimum proficiency in English (writing) on the CAAP test will be required to retake that section. A student who fails to meet the minimum proficiency in the CAAP test on the retake will be required to take (at personal expense) and successfully complete (a grade of C or higher) ENG 210: Grammar Review. These steps should be taken in subsequent semesters and will satisfactorily meet the minimum proficiency requirement in English (writing).

Questions regarding writing proficiency should be directed to the Office of Advising and Testing.

Although students evidence that they are capable of acceptable writing by completing the above steps successfully, they must show a continuing proficiency throughout their academic work.

Every paper should meet the following standards:

1. it must be legible, preferably typed or written in ink, and be neat in appearance, showing that the student takes pride in written work submitted;
2. it must issue from a clearly stated thesis, which is supported throughout in well-developed paragraphs;
3. it must show careful attention to grammar and mechanics.  Fragments or run-on sentences may make a paper unacceptable mechanically (unless they are used intentionally for effect). An average of more than one spelling error or typographical error per page may also make a paper unacceptable;
4. it should conform to widely accepted standards of form and documentation. The final authority on matters of appropriate form in the preparation of papers is to be determined by the instructor of the course for which the paper is written or by the school or department in which the course is taken. This authority may be a published guide such as Writing Research Papers: A Complete Guide by Lester.

When a student’s final grade in any course is affected by a deficiency in writing, the student must, on the recommendation of the course instructor, take a corrective program under the general supervision of the director of the campus writing center. This program may involve remedial coursework, the use of programmed materials and/or tutorial study.